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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Addresses 12th CII Bioenergy Summit in Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Addresses 12th CII Bioenergy Summit in Delhi

    Sh. Gadkari Highlights Ethanol Advancements: Ethanol Blending Reaches 15% in 2024

    Union Minister Sh. Gadkari Urges Swift Action to Reduce ₹22 Lakh Crore Fossil Fuel Import Cost

    Biofuel is key to India’s energy self-reliance, boosting the agricultural economy, and ensuring prosperity for our farmers: Sh. Nitin Gadkari

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 6:33PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, today reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing ethanol blending and biofuel initiatives at the 12th CII Bioenergy Summit 2024, themed “Fuelling the Future – Securing India’s Green Growth Goals”. The event took place in New Delhi.

    Highlighting the success of ethanol blending in India, Shri Gadkari noted that ethanol blending in petrol has surged from 1.53% in 2014 to 15% in 2024, with a target to reach 20% by 2025. Research is underway to explore blending 15% ethanol in diesel as well, as part of the government’s strategy to reduce fossil fuel dependency.

    Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister emphasized the creation of an ethanol ecosystem, which includes the establishment of 400 ethanol pumps by Indian Oil Corporation in four states—Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Discussions with leading automakers ongoing, with plans to launch flex-engine cars that run on ethanol. Similarly prominent manufacturers of two-wheelers are preparing to launch ethanol-powered bikes once the infrastructure is ready, he added.

    “We are fast-tracking efforts to increase ethanol production and distribution in these four key states,” said Shri Gadkari. He further added that these initiatives align with India’s broader biofuel goals, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable energy solutions.

    Shri Gadkari also discussed the importance of leveraging waste-to-energy technologies, especially in the production of bio-CNG from rice straw, which has proven viable across 475 projects, with over 40 already operational in states like Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The conversion ratio of rice straw to CNG stands at approximately 5:1 in tonnes. Union Minister called for further research into efficient biomass sources and cost-effective transportation of biomass.

    Addressing the environmental challenge of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, Shri Gadkari praised Indian Oil’s Panipat plant, which is converting agricultural waste (parali) into biomass. “At present, we are able to process one-fifth of the parali, but with proper planning, we can significantly reduce the seasonal air pollution caused by stubble burning,” he said.

    Research by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on bio-bitumen production also promises to reduce India’s dependence on imported bitumen, further contributing to the country’s green growth agenda.

    Shri Nitin Gadkari stressed the urgency of reducing India’s annual fossil fuel import worth ₹22 lakh crore, particularly amidst global geopolitical uncertainties. “Biofuel is key to India’s energy self-reliance, boosting the agricultural economy, and ensuring prosperity for our farmers,” he said.

    He concluded by emphasizing the transformative potential of the biofuel sector in expanding the role of farmers from “Annadata” (food-giver) to “Urjadata” (energy-giver), “Indhandata” (fuel-giver), and ultimately, “Hydrogen-Data” (Hydrogen-giver). The Minister congratulated CII on organising the summit.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Minister Scindia Inaugurates Global Standards Symposium (GSS) 2024: sets the stage for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Minister Scindia Inaugurates Global Standards Symposium (GSS) 2024: sets the stage for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024

    ‘We must ensure innovation thrives not in isolation, but in harmony’: Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Communications

    ‘GSS will explore how standards can help to expand digital inclusion and foster trust in the digital economy’: Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 6:48PM by PIB Delhi

    The Fifth Global Standards Symposium (GSS-24) was inaugurated by Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi this morning, marking a historic event for the Asia-Pacific region. This landmark symposium, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), brought together about 1500 leading policymakers and experts including global ministers from across the globe to discuss the future of digital transformation and the critical role of international standards in enabling the next wave of emerging technologies. GSS 24 is sets the agenda for the WTSA 2024, which is being hosted for the first time in India and a first for all of the Asia-Pacific.

    Speaking at the inaugural session, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, said, “innovation with thrive not in isolation but in harmony.” The Union Minister also spoke about India’s success with new technology as it rolled out 5G across 36 states and union territories within a span of just 22 months, covering 98 percent of all the districts and its Global Stack – Unified Payment Interface, Aadhar card system and the Digi Locker which stores about 6.75 billion documents serving 300 million users. The roll out of 5G is expected to inject 450 billion dollars into the economy by 2040, minister added.

     

    Emphasising India’s role as a global hub for telecommunications and digital innovation, Mr Scindia said, “This historic gathering signifies a pivotal moment for India. We will be driving the future of global standards, ensuring connectivity for all and showcasing our tech prowess”.

    On the subject of challenges posed by new age-technologies, the Minister emphasised, ‘’For AI to serve as a force for good, we must address concerns related to privacy, bias, and transparency. Its deployment must be guided by ethical considerations and robust regulatory frameworks’’.

    The inaugural session was attended by Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, India, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary -General ITU, Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, ITU, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, India.

    Dr. Raj Kumar Upadhyay, CEO and Chairman Project Board at Centre for Development of Telematics chaired the GSS-24.

    Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU emphasized the critical role of standards in the current global context, “At the highest levels of global governance, standards are top of mind. They are more than mere technical specifications; they foster interoperability, promise innovation, and crucially, can serve as safeguards, ensuring that technology, including artificial intelligence, is developed and deployed responsibly.”

    Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India, highlighted the symposium’s significance in shaping the future of telecommunications. Stating that “the work we do here will decide the future of telecom”, Dr Mittal emphasized India’s commitment to leading the standardization path forward, focusing on “interoperability, scalability, and security”.

    Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), chaired the event and delivered address on the future of digital transformation. He emphasized the critical role of today’s discussions in shaping tomorrow’s technological landscape, stating, “What we make today will define how AI serves our humanity. Our discussions are more than just conversations; they are building blocks of our shared digital future.”

    ITU-GSS will set the stage for the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), taking place from 15 to 24 October 2024 in New Delhi, India. This event, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by Department of Telecommunication (DoT) will be held for the first time in India and the Asia-Pacific.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Indian Thali in Global Spotlight for Sustainability

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Food Processing Industries

    Indian Thali in Global Spotlight for Sustainability

    Posted On:
    14 OCT 2024 7:27PM by PIB Delhi

    Indian Thali in Global Spotlight for Sustainability

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Centre ensuring adequate arrangements for paddy procurement in Punjab

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Centre ensuring adequate arrangements for paddy procurement in Punjab

    Centre providing online registration of farmers, integration of land records, digital procurement operations and online transfer of MSP payments during procurement operations

    Union Food and Consumer Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi meets Chief Minister of Punjab, discusses several issues

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 7:09PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution met with Chief Minister of Punjab here today, to discuss issues related to the ongoing paddy procurement in KMS 2024-25 in Punjab. Paddy procurement in Punjab has commenced in Punjab from 1st October, 2024 and is proceeding smoothly.

    Procurement of 124.14 lakh metric tonnes of rice was estimated from Punjab last year, in KMS 2023-24, which was 100% achieved. This year for KMS 2024-25, Government of India has already approved an estimated procurement of 124 lakh tonnes of rice from Punjab which is equivalent to 185 lakh tonnes of paddy and Government of India is procuring the same from the State without any restrictions.

    More than 2200 Mandis are functional currently in Punjab for paddy procurement this year and as on 13.10.2024, out of total arrival of around 7.0 lakh tonnes of paddy, approx. 6.0 lakh tonnes have already been procured for central pool. Paddy procurement will continue as usual till 30.11.2024.

    Adequate storage arrangements have been made to avoid any difficulty in smooth operation of paddy procurement. To accommodate the inflow of CMR (Custom Milled Rice), a detailed plan has already been prepared to provide about 40 lakh tonnes of storage space by liquidating previous stocks of wheat as well as that of rice from the covered godowns available in Punjab by December 2024.

    To ensure that farmers do not face any difficulty during procurement operations, adequate arrangements including online registration of farmers, integration of land records, digital procurement operations and online transfer of MSP payments, have been made. Arrangements have been made to ensure full payment of MSP to farmers directly into their bank accounts, usually within 48 hours.

    Several other issues which inter alia included review of the rates of Commission on procurement of paddy, updation of WINGS portal and Out Turn Ratio (OTR) of Paddy to Rice were discussed. The issue regarding additional transportation charges being incurred by the millers was also discussed.  It was assured that the same will be examined favorably and resolved.

    Revision of the rates of commission charges is under active consideration of the Government and a decision in the matter will be taken shortly. A study on OTR and Driage of Paddy is ongoing at IIT Kharagpur.

    Updation of data/ fields on WINGS (Warehouse Inventory Network & Governing System) portal has been done and its visibility to all stakeholders is now available.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Jual Oram’s Visit to Nagaland: Strengthening Tribal Empowerment and Development

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 7:40PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, is on a three-day visit to Nagaland from 13th to 15th October 2024. This visit is part of the Prime Minister’s initiative to send ministers to every corner of the country, with a special focus on the Northeast, to engage with citizens, understand their concerns, and contribute towards building a Vikasit Bharat (Developed India).

    On 13th October, Shri Oram met with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, Shri Neiphiu Rio, at his residence in Sovima. The meeting focused on key developmental projects, including the effective utilization of funds for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation. Shri Oram emphasized the importance of developing world-class EMRS schools and promoting an entrepreneurship ecosystem in the state.

    On 14th October, Shri Oram addressed local tribal communities at an event held in the Multi-purpose Hall in Zunheboto. He highlighted that the primary objective of his visit was to ensure that government schemes are effectively reaching the people of Nagaland at the grassroots level. Shri Oram listened to the concerns of the communities and reassured them of the central government’s unwavering commitment to fostering development and empowerment in the region.

     Shri Oram also visited the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Diphupar, accompanied by the Advisor for Tribal Affairs, Nagaland, Shri H. Tovihoto Ayemi. Following this, he interacted with vendors and artisans at Adi Bazar, engaging with the local community to discuss challenges and explore ways to support their economic growth through government initiatives.

    Explaining the significance of his visit, Shri Oram remarked that it aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for ministers to directly engage with citizens across the country, particularly in the Northeast, and to advance the nation’s goal of becoming a developed nation.

    On 15th October, Shri Oram will attend the inauguration of a new community hall at Indisen village in Dimapur, further demonstrating the government’s commitment to empowering and uplifting local communities through robust infrastructure development.

    Explaining the significance of his visit, Shri Oram remarked that it aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for ministers to directly engage with citizens across the country, particularly in the Northeast, and to advance the nation’s goal of becoming a developed nation.

    On 15th October, Shri Oram will attend the inauguration of a new community hall at Indisen village in Dimapur, further demonstrating the government’s commitment to empowering and uplifting local communities through robust infrastructure development.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LAUNCH OF ‘SAMARTHAK’, FIRST SHIP OF MULTI PURPOSE VESSEL (L&T) PROJECT ON 14 OCT 24 AT L&T, CHENNAI

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 7:32PM by PIB Delhi

    The first ship of the two Multi Purpose Vessel project, being built by L&T, Shipyard for the Indian Navy, was launched on 14 Oct 24 at L&T, Kattupalli.  In keeping with the maritime traditions, the ship was launched by Mrs Shashi Tripathi President NWWA. The ceremony was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. The ship has been named ‘ Samarthak ’ which means ‘ Supporter’ and is synonymous to the muti-dimensional role envisaged from the platform.

    The contract for building two Multi Purpose Vessel was signed between the Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard on 25 Mar 22. These Multi Purpose Vessels will be capable of towing ships, launch and recover various targets, operate unscrewed autonomous vehicles and act as a trial platform for various indigenous weapons and sensors under development. The Multi Purpose Vessels can achieve a maximum speed of 15 knots and are 106 m long and 16.8 wide.

    The Indian Navy remains steadfast in its efforts towards indigenous shipbuilding. The launch of this vessel by private Indian shipyard showcases Indian Navy’s strides in indigenous shipbuilding, in consonance with Govt of India vision for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat ’ and ‘ Make in India ’ initiative.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DRI busts a factory illegally manufacturing Mephedrone in Meghnagar, Jhabua, MP; 112 kg Mephedrone worth Rs. 168 crore seized; four persons arrested

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 7:59PM by PIB Delhi

    Acting on specific intelligence, officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a factory which was engaged in illegal manufacture of Mephedrone (a psychotropic substance under NDPS Act, 1985) located in the Industrial Area of Meghnagar, Dist. Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of 12-10-2024.

    The operation resulted in the seizure of 36 kg of Mephedrone in powder form and 76 kg of liquid Mephedrone, worth Rs. 168 crore, and other raw materials and equipment. The factory, which was being illegally used for the manufacture of drugs, was also sealed.

    Four individuals, including the director of the factory, have been arrested for illegal manufacturing and storing of Mephedrone.

    The representative samples drawn out of manufactured drugs were sent to Forensics Science Laboratory for preliminary testing. The lab confirmed the presence of Mephedrone in the samples.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CAQM Sub-Committee unanimously invokes Stage-I GRAP 27-Point Action Plan across entire NCR as Delhi’s AQI Hits ‘Poor’ Category at 234

    Source: Government of India

    CAQM Sub-Committee unanimously invokes Stage-I GRAP 27-Point Action Plan across entire NCR as Delhi’s AQI Hits ‘Poor’ Category at 234

    All 27 actions as envisaged under Stage-I of the revised GRAP – ‘POOR’ Air Quality, to be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, from 8:00 AM of 15.10.2024 (tomorrow) in the entire NCR

    CAQM urges citizens to follow the specific steps listed in the Citizen Charter of Stage-I of GRAP

    Agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR States and DPCC addressed to ensure successful and strict implementation of actions under Stage-I of GRAP

    The Commission is closely watching the situation and will review the air quality scenario on a regular basis in the coming days

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 7:45PM by PIB Delhi

    Today, Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 234 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In wake of the average/ overall air quality of Delhi recording ‘Poor’ air quality category ranging between 201-300, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) met today to take stock of the current air quality of Delhi-NCR. While comprehensively reviewing the air quality scenario in the region as well as the air quality forecast made available by IMD/ IITM, it was noted that there has been a notable dip in air quality parameters in the last 24 hours in the region which led to the AQI for Delhi moving into the “POOR” category and the forecasts also predict air quality to mainly remain in “Poor” category in coming days owing to the unfavorable meteorological conditions. Therefore, the Sub-Committee unanimously decided that all actions as envisaged under Stage-I of GRAP – ‘Poor’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, from 8:00 AM of 15.10.2024 in the NCR.

    As per the unanimous decision of the Sub-Committee on GRAP, all 27 actions as envisaged under Stage-I of GRAP – ‘POOR’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 201-300), to be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, from 8:00 AM of 15.10.2024 in the entire NCR. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP including Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR States and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been addressed to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage-I under GRAP during this period.

    Further, the Sub-Committee also urges the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter of Stage I of GRAP as under:

    • Keep engines of your vehicles properly tuned.
    • Maintain proper tyre pressure in vehicles.
    • Keep PUC certificates of your vehicles up to date.
    • Do not idle your vehicle, also turn off the engine at red lights.
    • Prefer hybrid vehicles or EVs to control vehicular pollution.
    • Do not litter / dispose wastes, garbage in open spaces.
    • Report air polluting activities through 311 App, Green Delhi App, SAMEER App etc.
    • Plant more trees.
    • Celebrate festivals in an eco-friendly manner – avoid firecrackers.
    • Do not drive/ ply end of life/ 10/15 years old Diesel/ Petrol vehicles.

    A 27-point action plan as per Stage-I of GRAP is applicable from 8:00 AM of 15.10.2024 (tomorrow) in the entire NCR. This 27-point action plan contains steps to be implemented/ ensured by various agencies including Pollution Control Boards of NCR States and DPCC. The detailed schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s official website and may be accessed on https://caqm.nic.in

    These steps are:

    1. Ensure proper implementation of Directions/ Rules/ guidelines on dust mitigation measures in Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities and sound environmental management of C&D waste.
    2. Ensure strict compliance of Direction Nos. 11-18 dated 11.06.2021 and do not permit C&D activities in respect of such projects with plot size equal to or more than 500 sqm which are not registered on the ‘web portal’ of the respective state / GNCTD and / or which do not fulfil the other requirements as per the above noted statutory directions, for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures.
    3. Ensure regular lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste, and Hazardous wastes from dedicated dump sites and ensure that no waste is dumped illegally in open land areas.
    4. Carry out periodic mechanized sweeping and water sprinkling on roads and ensure scientific disposal of the dust collected in designated sites/landfills.
    5. Ensure that C&D materials & waste are properly stored/ contained, duly covered in the premises.  Ensure transportation of C&D materials and C&D waste only through covered vehicles.
    6. Strictly enforce the statutory directions and yardsticks for use of anti-smog guns at C&D sites, in proportion to the total area of construction for the project.
    7. Intensify use of anti-smog guns, water sprinkling and dust suppression measures in road construction / widening / repair projects and maintenance activities.
    8. Stringently enforce prohibition on open burning of bio-mass and municipal solid waste. Impose maximum EC upon violations in accordance with Hon’ble NGT’s orders dated 04.12.2014 and 28.04.2015 in OA 21/2014.
    9. Strict vigil to ensure that there are no burning incidents in the landfill sites/ dumpsites.
    10. Deploy traffic police for smooth traffic flow at all identified corridors with heavy traffic and congestion prone intersections.
    11. Strict vigilance and enforcement of PUC norms for vehicles.
    12. No tolerance for visible emissions – Stop visibly polluting vehicles by impounding and/ or levying maximum penalty.
    13. Strictly enforce the Hon’ble Supreme Court order on diversion of non- destined truck traffic for Delhi, through Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
    14. Strictly enforce NGT / Hon’ble SC’s order on overaged diesel / petrol vehicles and as per extant statutes.
    15. Ensure strict penal/ legal action against non‑compliant and illegal industrial units.
    16. Stringently enforce all pollution control regulations in Industries, brick kilns and hot mix plants etc. – strict compliance of the prescribed standards of emissions.
    17. Ensure that only approved fuels are used by the industries in NCR including in brick kilns and hot mix plants and enforce closure in case of violations, if any.
    18. Stringently enforce emission norms in thermal power plants and strict actions be taken against non-compliance.
    19. Strictly enforce Hon’ble Courts / Tribunal orders regarding ban on firecrackers.
    20. Ensure regular lifting and proper disposal of industrial waste from industrial and non-development areas.
    21. DISCOMS to minimise power supply interruptions in NCR.
    22. Ensure that diesel generator sets are not used as regular source of power supply.
    23. Strictly enforce the extant ban on coal / firewood as fuel in Tandoors in Hotels, Restaurants and open eateries.
    24. Ensure hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity / gas-based / clean fuel – based appliances.
    25. Information dissemination including through social media and bulk SMS etc. Mobile Apps to be used to inform people about the pollution levels, contact details of control room, enable them to report polluting activities / sources to the concerned authorities and inform them about actions that would be taken by Government.
    26. Ensure quick actions for redressal of complaints on 311 APP, Green Delhi App, SAMEER App and other such social media platforms to curb polluting activities.
    27. Encourage offices to start unified commute for employees to reduce traffic on road.

    The Commission shall be closely monitoring the situation and will review the air quality scenario on a regular basis in the coming days. The detailed schedule of GRAP is available on the Commission’s official website and may be accessed on https://caqm.nic.in

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Health Secretary addresses Annual India Leadership Summit organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Health Secretary addresses Annual India Leadership Summit organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in New Delhi

    The medicines from Indian companies provided 219 billion USD savings to the US healthcare system in 2022 and a total 1.3 Trillion USD savings between 2013 – 2022: Union Health Secretary

    “50% of all vaccines manufactured in the world are from India. In the last one year alone, of the 8 billion vaccine doses manufactured and distributed across the world, 4 billion doses were manufactured in India”

    “India appreciates the NCDC and ICMR Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) organized in collaboration with the U.S CDC which has trained over 200 Epidemic Intelligence Services Officers so far with another 50 currently undergoing training through various programs”

    “U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue launched in August aims to enhance U.S.-India biomedical research cooperation, particularly focusing on cervical cancer”

    “Initiatives like the Indo-U.S. Health Dialogue have yielded tangible results in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance. Joint efforts, such as the recent U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue, focus on enhancing biomedical research and cancer prevention in the Indo-Pacific region”

    “India and the U.S. can further strengthen global health security by prioritizing research, technology transfer, and capacity building”

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:04PM by PIB Delhi

    Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, addressed the annual India Leadership Summit 2024, organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, here today.

    Addressing the gathering, Smt. Punya said that India has emerged as a global leader in pharmaceuticals, being the third-largest producer and a key supplier of generic medicines. This sector’s success has resulted in substantial savings for healthcare systems worldwide, including a notable contribution to the U.S. healthcare system. “The contribution of the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is evidenced by the fact that India has the highest number of US FDA-approved pharmaceutical plants outside of the United States. This is 25% of the total number of US FDA-approved pants outside of the US. The medicines from Indian companies, I am told, provided 219 billion USD savings to the US healthcare system in 2022 and a total 1.3 Trillion USD savings between 2013 – 2022”, she stated.

    The country also leads in vaccine production, with a significant share of global manufacturing, underscoring its role as the “pharmacy of the world”. “50% of all vaccines manufactured in the world are from India. In the last one year alone, of the 8 billion vaccine doses manufactured and distributed across the world, 4 billion doses were manufactured in India”, she said.

    To ensure a robust healthcare system, the Union Health Secretary noted that India has reformed medical education, replacing outdated regulatory frameworks with the National Medical Commission Act and related laws. This has led to a significant increase in medical and nursing college numbers and enrolment, addressing disparities in healthcare professional availability”. Consequently, India is poised to produce a competent health workforce that meets both national and global needs.

    Smt. Punya emphasized that government efforts have progressively improved the quality, scale, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare in India. “It is a testament to our expanded healthcare services that the Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), which is borne entirely by the households, has declined by 25 percentage points as a share of Total Health Expenditure between 2013-2014 and 2021-22.

    On the strong Indo-US Partnership in the health sector, the Union Health Secretary stated that “our mutual and shared priorities in the field of surveillance, pandemic preparedness and anti-microbial resistance are underscored in the deep partnership between National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the US Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)”. “India appreciates the NCDC and ICMR Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) organized in collaboration with the U.S CDC. We are happy to inform that over 200 Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) Officers have been trained so far with another 50 currently undergoing training through various programs”, she added.

    India and US have also agreed to initiate a joint strategic framework for optimizing the biopharmaceutical supply chain, for optimizing and strengthening global supply chains and to reduce dependencies on single-source suppliers, through the Bio- 5 alliance. 

    In 2023, Prime Minister, India and President, USA committed to accelerating the fight against cancer, leading to the inaugural U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue launched in August. Smt. Punya highlighted that this initiative aims to enhance U.S.-India biomedical research cooperation, particularly focusing on cervical cancer. It includes partnerships with institutions like AIIMS and Tata Memorial Hospital and has evolved into the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative. She said that “reflecting India’s vision of ‘One World, One Health,’ a grant of $7.5 million has been dedicated to cancer testing and diagnostics in the Indo-Pacific region. India will also support radiotherapy and cancer prevention efforts in the region, contributing 40 million vaccine doses under GAVI and Quad programs to assist several countries in need of these services.”

    Smt. Punya noted that the India-U.S. partnership in healthcare exemplifies collaborative efforts to address shared health challenges. Initiatives like the Indo-U.S. Health Dialogue have yielded tangible results in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance. Joint efforts, such as the recent U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue, focus on enhancing biomedical research and cancer prevention in the Indo-Pacific region”.

    She concluded her address by stating that “looking ahead, India and the U.S. can further strengthen global health security by prioritizing research, technology transfer, and capacity building. By fostering public-private partnerships and expanding collaborative vaccine initiatives, both nations can improve health outcomes”. Guided by the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ India emphasizes that global security depends on collective efforts, aiming for inclusive growth and shared well-being, she further added.

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    HFW/ Secy addresses Annual India Leadership Summit /14th October 2024/2

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: RE sector set to dominate Indian power industry in the coming years: MNRE Secretary Shri Prashant Kumar Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:30PM by PIB Delhi

    The renewable energy sector is set to dominate the Indian power industry in the coming years, stated Shri Prashant Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. He was speaking at the Brainstorming Conclave organized by the Central Electricity Authority on the Indian Power Sector Scenario by 2047 in New Delhi. He mentioned that RE capacity, which was 76 GW in 2014, is now almost 210 GW, and achieving 500 GW by 2030 is within reach.

    Shri Prashant Kumar Singh highlighted that a major part of this growth in RE will come from the solar sector. Solar capacity has surged from a mere 2.6 GW in 2014 to an impressive 91 GW today, with projections indicating it could reach close to 300 GW by 2030. Initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar and PM KUSUM are driving this demand, complemented by rapid advancements in manufacturing capabilities. Solar power module manufacturing, which stood at 2 GW in 2014, has surged to 60 GW and is expected to surpass 100 GW by 2030.

    He also highlighted the excellent growth of the solar cell manufacturing sector from 1 GW in 2014 to an estimated 8-10 GW today. By the end of March 2025, it is projected to reach 20 GW, with a target of over 70 GW by 2030. Between 2014 and 2023, investments in the RE sector have totalled ₹8.5 lakh crore. At the recent ReInvest event of MNRE, financial institutions, including public sector banks, pledged ₹25 lakh crore in support of RE projects through 2030.

    Secretary Shri P.K. Singh also emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the Green Hydrogen Mission in the RE sector. He urged the industry to collaborate on advancing the Green Hydrogen sector in the country. India has set a target of 7.7 metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, alongside establishing 15 GW of electrolyser capacity. Shri Singh also noted advancements in research and development, highlighting the National Physical Laboratory’s development of a reference solar cell—a significant milestone for the sector.

    The Brainstorming Conclave by the Central Electricity Authority on the Indian Power Sector Scenario by 2047 was inaugurated today by Union Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Power & New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Y. Naik also addressed the event. The conclave involves policymakers, government leaders, ministers, senior officials from Central and State Governments, industry experts, distinguished guests, and other stakeholders. The event aims to provide a unique platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration towards a sustainable and resilient power sector.

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    Navin Sreejith

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Auction for Sale (re-issue) of (i) ‘7.02% GS 2031’, (ii) ‘7.23% GS 2039’ and (iii) ‘7.09% GS 2054’

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India (GoI) has announced the sale (re-issue) of (i) “7.02% Government Security 2031” for a notified amount of ₹10,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using multiple price method, (ii) “7.23% Government Security 2039” for a notified amount of ₹13,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using multiple price method and (iii) “7.09% Government Security 2054” for a notified amount of ₹10,000 crore (nominal) through price based auction using multiple price method. GoI will have the option to retain additional subscription up to ₹2,000 crore against each security mentioned above. The auctions will be conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Office, Fort, Mumbai on October 18, 2024 (Friday).

    Up to 5% of the notified amount of the sale of the securities will be allotted to eligible individuals and institutions as per the Scheme for Non-Competitive Bidding Facility in the Auction of Government Securities.

    Both competitive and non-competitive bids for the auction should be submitted in electronic format on the Reserve Bank of India Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) system on October 18, 2024. The non-competitive bids should be submitted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and the competitive bids should be submitted between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

    The result of the auctions will be announced on October 18, 2024 (Friday) and payment by successful bidders will be on October 21, 2024 (Monday).    

    The Securities will be eligible for “When Issued” trading in accordance with the guidelines on ‘When Issued transactions in Central Government Securities’ issued by the Reserve Bank of India vide circular No. RBI/2018-19/25 dated July 24, 2018 as amended from time to time.

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    NB/KMN

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia; To Boost Co-Production and Strengthen Cultural Ties

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia; To Boost Co-Production and Strengthen Cultural Ties

    Colombia becomes the 17th country to sign such agreement with India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia will be signed on 15.10.2024 at 4PM at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. 

    The signatories representing India and Colombia will be Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and His Excellency Mr. Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia respectively.

    About the agreement

    The agreement between India and Columbia is expected to benefit producers from both the countries in pooling their creative, artistic, technical, financial and marketing resources for the co-production. It will also lead to exchange of art and culture among the two countries and create goodwill and better understanding among the people of both the countries thereby boosting cultural ties between the two countries.

    Currently, India has co-production treaties with 16 countries, resulting in 29 projects over the last five years. Colombia is the 17th country with which India is signing a Co-Production Agreement.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:33PM by PIB Delhi

    An Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia will be signed on 15.10.2024 at 4PM at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. 

    The signatories representing India and Colombia will be Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and His Excellency Mr. Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia respectively.

    ***

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan participates in fireside chat organised by US India Strategic Partnership Forum

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 9:55PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, today participated in a fireside chat organised by the US India Strategic Partnership Forum as part of the India Leadership Summit 2024. He was joined by Mr. Ryan Roslansky, the CEO of LinkedIn, and Mr. Marvin Krislov, the President of Pace University.

    Speaking at the event, Shri Pradhan said that as the National Education Policy 2020 moves towards completing five years, India is giving unprecedented impetus to embracing new technologies, learning in Indian languages, and enhancing research and employability skills. He shared his thoughts on India’s progress in various aspects of education, which is driving learners towards competency and knowledge-based enterprises. The Minister also highlighted how India can embrace new opportunities for developing a future-ready, responsible generation of global citizens.

    Shri Pradhan further stated that the world needs to come together to solve global challenges, and India is ready to play its role. From opening doors for foreign universities to set up campuses in India to moving towards a paradigm of prioritizing competency over degrees, India will fulfill the aspirations of its society and become a growth engine for the world, he added.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Video: Nobel Peace Prize, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    – Nobel Peace Prize
    – Noon Briefing Guest
    – Secretary-General
    – Lebanon
    – Security Council
    – Lebanon/Humanitarian
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Ukraine
    – South Sudan
    – West and Central Africa Floods
    – UNHCR
    – International Days

    Nobel Peace Prize
    The Secretary-General warmly congratulated the grassroots Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. 
    The atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as the hibakusha, are selfless, soul-bearing witnesses of the horrific human cost of nuclear weapons. While their numbers grow smaller each year, the relentless work and resilience of the hibakusha are the backbone of the global nuclear disarmament movement.  
    In a statement, the Secretary-General said that he will never forget his many meetings with them over the years. Their haunting living testimony reminds the world that the nuclear threat is not confined to history books.  Nuclear weapons remain a clear and present danger to humanity, once again appearing in the daily rhetoric of international relations. 
    It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the hibakusha and see nuclear weapons for what they are: devices of death that offer no safety, protection, or security. The only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them altogether. 
    The United Nations proudly stands with the hibakusha.  They are an inspiration to our shared efforts to build a world free of nuclear weapons.  

    Noon Briefing Guest
    Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs briefed reporters on the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo for its work advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.

    Secretary-General
    The Secretary-General this morning addressed the ASEAN-UN Summit in Vientiane. He underscored the importance of the relationship between the two organizations which, he said, is a strategic partnership. In a world with growing geopolitical divides, with dramatic impacts on peace and security and sustainable development, the Association of South-East Asian Nations [ASEAN] is a bridge-builder and a messenger for peace, he said.
    He also underscored how much the United Nations is grateful for ASEAN’s important contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General took the opportunity to express his solidarity with Indonesia, as two of its peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL were wounded yesterday by Israeli fire in south Lebanon. 
    The Secretary-General outlined the key areas of the recently adopted Pact for the Future, which offers a strong vision for the time ahead. 
    In a press conference, the Secretary-General was asked about the wounding of the two peacekeepers in Lebanon, and he condemned the shooting against the UN premises in which the two peacekeepers were wounded, adding that it was a violation of international humanitarian law. Peacekeepers must be protected by all parties of the conflict, he said.
    Prior to the meeting, the Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings with the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongloun Sisoulith, and with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Pham Minh Chinh. We have issued readouts of those meetings.

    Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Website
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson/

    Full Highlights
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5X_cjKpmog

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Giving First Nations names to our bird species is a lot more complex – and contentious – than you might think

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University

    Shuterstock

    First Peoples’ names for animals and plants undeniably enrich Australian culture. But to date, few names taken from a language of Australia’s First Peoples have been widely applied to birds.

    About 2,000 Australian bird species and subspecies occur in Australia and its territories. However, just 35 of these have common names taken directly from First Peoples’ languages. These names are variations of just a handful of First Peoples words: galah, gang-gang, budgerigar, currawong, brolga, kookaburra, chowchilla, Kalkadoon and mukarrthippi.

    By contrast, many more bird names promote colonial power, by memorialising (mostly male) foreign explorers, naturalists, administrators or royalty – some of whom never even visited Australia.

    There is growing interest in the use of First Peoples’ words, as a global movement to decolonise the common names of species gathers pace. But as we and our colleagues explain in a paper published today, the practice is far more complex, and sometimes contentious, than it might appear.

    Budgerigar is one of eight First Peoples words used for Australian bird names.
    Shutterstock

    A bird by many names

    In Aoteoroa/New Zealand, many birds are known by their Māori names. Kiwis have never been known by any other name, and nor have kākāpō or kākā.

    It seems natural to assume using Indigenous names for our flora would help recognise First Peoples’ rights and knowledge, and their important role in Australian bird conservation.

    But we should proceed with both caution and respect.

    More than 250 First Peoples languages exist in Australia. This is unlike New Zealand where there is one Māori language (though many dialects).

    Most Australian birds occur on Country of more than one First Peoples’ group, and each group is likely to have at least one name for each species.

    The galah is a good example. For the first 100 years after Europeans arrived, naturalists most commonly used the name rose-breasted cockatoo.

    Gradually, however, the name used by the Yuwaarlaraay of north-western New South Wales – gilaa – took hold. In 1926, the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, now BirdLife Australia, adopted a variant of this, galah, as the official Australian name for the species.

    Since then, galahs have become deeply embedded into the national psyche. When Home and Away character Alf Stewart calls someone a “flamin’ galah” most Australians knows he is being uncomplimentary.

    Similarly, there could be no mistaking which species a survey respondent was referring to when they stated their favourite bird was a “glar”.

    But in the Kimberley region, the Gooniyandi peoples call galahs girlinygirliny. In the NSW Riverina, the Wemba-Wemba name is wilek-wilek.

    Galahs are known by myriad names.
    Shutterstock

    Likewise, the white-throated grasswren is known by the name yirlinkirrkkirr or yirrindjirrin in the Kunwinjku dialect. It’s also known as djirnidjirnirrinjken in the Kune dialect, from the Bininj Kunwok language group. The Jawoyn name for the same species is nyirrnyirr.

    The situation is even more complicated for birds shared with other countries.

    These multiple words for a species mean governments and other organisations could be seen as favouring one group over another if they recognise a particular First Peoples’ name.

    So sometimes it’s best to keep the English name, even though First Peoples’ names exist. This was the case with the endangered golden-shouldered parrot, known by Queensland’s Olkola people as alwal.

    The bird is highly significant in the Olkola creation story. However, a team working on the species’ recovery, chaired by an Olkola representative, decided to stick with the English name because neighbouring language groups refer to the bird by other names.

    Sadly, the parrots themselves no longer occur on the Country of some First Peoples, and only the name of the bird remains.

    Golden-shouldered parrots no longer occur on the Country of some First Peoples.
    Shutetrstock

    Protecting the secret and sacred

    The words First Peoples use to describe species may have special cultural significance.

    First Peoples’ names for birds, and other species, are often built around the birds’ relationships with people, kin and with Country. For example, the name may describe:

    • a connection between a person and a species
    • a group of people’s relationship with each other which is related to a shared ancestor
    • relationships between people and a sacred site or Dreaming track.

    Sometimes the names have sacred or secret meanings – and these can change with the place or with the speaker.

    For these reasons, First Peoples may not want names from their language to be publicly available or used in official documents without their consent.

    Permission is key

    There are cases where English names should and can be replaced by a First Peoples’ name.

    For example, in 2020 the bird now known as the mukarrthippi grasswren was recognised as a separate subspecies and needed its own common name. Australia’s rarest bird, it is known from just a few sand dunes on Country of the Ngiyampaa people in western New South Wales.

    Ngiyampaa elders together settled on the name mukarrthippi. It is a combination of Ngiyampaa words – mukarr or spinifex (the spiny grass in which the grasswrens live) and thippi which means little bird.

    Across Australia, 14 other bird subspecies have only ever been known from Country of a single First Peoples group. This means conversations with elders could be had about ascribing a First Peoples’ name to these birds.

    In other cases, language users from multiple First Peoples groups could decide together on a name.

    Where First Peoples offer alternative names for animal and plant species, governments should embrace the change. But no new First Peoples’ names should be adopted for species without explicit permission of the speakers of the language.

    Stephen Garnett receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with BirdLife Australia where he is a board member.

    Sophie is a proud Alywarr woman currently working at CSIRO

    – ref. Giving First Nations names to our bird species is a lot more complex – and contentious – than you might think – https://theconversation.com/giving-first-nations-names-to-our-bird-species-is-a-lot-more-complex-and-contentious-than-you-might-think-238432

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs on the RCMP’s findings regarding criminal activity in Canada with connections to agents of the Government of India

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the following statement:

    Ottawa – October 14, 2024

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the following statement:

    “Earlier today, Commissioner Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Gauvin of the RCMP released findings with respect to the involvement of agents of the Government of India in serious criminal activity on Canadian soil. The RCMP took this unprecedented step in response to the fact that despite law enforcement action, the activities have continued, which pose an ongoing and significant threat to public safety, particularly to members of the Sikh and broader South Asian community in Canada.  

    I want to thank all those involved in this deeply complex investigation, including the many municipal police services with whom the RCMP has worked closely to mitigate threats to public safety throughout Canada.

    In addition to the actions taken by our independent law enforcement agencies, I am working closely with my colleague, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has taken additional actions to reduce this threat and together, we are employing every possible action to address these criminal activities, which must stop now.

    For many Canadians, particularly Indo-Canadians, this news will come as a shock.

    The actions that are alleged to have taken place on Canadian soil are a grave violation of our sovereignty and our rule of law.

    But I also hope that Canadians can find relief in knowing that our law enforcement and national security agencies are working to keep you safe and hold to account those who seek to harm our communities. I strongly encourage all Canadians and in particular, leaders in the South Asian community, to continue to work with law enforcement officials.

    For generations, people from every corner of the globe have come to Canada seeking a better life, precisely because they felt that the Canadian government would duly fulfill one their most fundamental duties – keep them safe.

    Our law enforcement and national security agencies work every day to uphold that promise, and I once again want to thank them for their work on this file.

    The Government of Canada takes the issue of foreign interference extremely seriously. We will continue to take all necessary actions to keep Canadians and those on Canadian soil safe.” 

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    343-574-8116
    Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will interact with IPS probationers on Tuesday, 15 October 2024 in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will interact with IPS probationers on Tuesday, 15 October 2024 in New Delhi

    The probationary officers will share their training experiences with the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation

    Young police officers have an important role in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolve to make India a developed nation by 2047

    The probationary officers will also receive guidance from the Home Minister to deal with challenges related to the internal security of the country

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 4:09PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will interact with the Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers of 76 RR (2023 Batch) in New Delhi on Tuesday, 15 October 2024. During the interaction, the probationary officers will share their training experiences with the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation.

    Young police officers have an important role to play in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolve to make India a developed nation by 2047. During the meeting, the probationary officers will also receive guidance from the Home Minister to deal with challenges related to the internal security of the country.

    In the Indian Police Service 2023 batch, a total of 188 officer trainees including 54 women officers have completed the Basic Course Training Phase-1. After two weeks of training with various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) in Delhi, the IPS trainee officers will undergo 29 weeks of district practical training in their respective cadres.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services: Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Source: Government of India

    Ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services: Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Enhancing public awareness about standards is essential for empowering the consumers: Shri Joshi

    One nation, one standard to ensure coherence and synergy among stakeholders working towards unified standards framework: Shri Joshi

    Bureau of Indian Standards commemorates World Standards Day

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 3:17PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi during his keynote address on World Standards Day in New Delhi today said that Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services. He said the well-being of consumers depend on the access to quality products while the growth and profitability of the industry is directly linked to the demand for these high-quality goods. This is a holistic approach acknowledging the interdependence of the consumers and producers fostering the robust quality ecosystem, he said.

    Shri Joshi emphasised PM Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for the country to be recognised for its best quality and for India to strive to make itself synonymous with the world standards. He said that the BIS should focus on quality as India’s economy is rapidly growing along with its contribution in global trade. He stressed that the BIS has a huge role to play in enriching economic growth, enhancing the ‘Made in India’ label and establishing Brand Bharat at a global level. 

    The Minister said that under the guidance of Hon’ble PM, the new BIS Act of 2016 will further strengthen ease of doing business and will provide a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Praising the BIS for their relentless efforts in standardisation of products, Shri Joshi said that today more than 22,300 standards are in force and 94% of Indian standards are being harmonised with ISO and ISE standards. Shri Joshi mentioned that today 174 QCOs of 732 products have been notified for compulsory BIS certification, while till 2014 there were only 14 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) of 106 products.

    The Union Minister said that enhancing public awareness about standards is essential for empowering the consumers. The Minister said that the challenge for the government is to generate widespread interest and awareness among citizens in the standards programmes being undertaken by BIS. We have to set a standard where awareness is created among consumers to verify ISI and BIS certification before buying any product, that is the challenge for us, he said.

    Shri Joshi said that India, currently being the fifth largest economy in the world, should focus on improving standards as they serve as the backbone of the society, ensuring the safety, quality and trust in the product and the service. Standards work as catalysts for technical development, industrial growth and well-being of the society. They facilitate both domestic and international trade contributing both for economic growth and environmental sustainability, he noted.

    Shri Joshi said that for businesses, standards improve processes, systems, reduce waste and customer satisfaction supported through the compatibility with other markets while for consumers standards ensure reliability, consistency and safety of the products and interoperability.

    During his address, he also applauded other standard development organisations (SDOs) like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) operating across sectors. He further stated that the concept of one nation and one standard becomes paramount ensuring the coherence and synergy among stakeholders working towards the unified standards framework.

    During the event, Shri Joshi launched BIS Care App 3.0. BIS CARE app is a one stop utility platform to empower consumers. It not only provides means to verify genuineness of BIS certified products and Hallmarked Jewelries, but it also facilitates lodging of complaints against sub-standard products and misuse of BIS Standard Marks. The brand-new upgrade of BIS CARE App to version 3.0 comes with a new set of features specifically aiming to increase visibility of relevant information for stakeholders pertaining to Standards and Certification.

    Shri Joshi also launched a film on the Standards Promotion Activities of BIS along with a Quality Quest Game for consumers to enhance their knowledge on quality. To mark World Standards Day, he released Reference Handbooks to disseminate information regarding important national standards and also comic books developed by BIS to be distributed to Standards Clubs across the country.

    The event was also graced by the Union Minister of State, Shri B.L. Verma, alongside Secretary of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary, Shri Bharat Khera, Director General of BIS, Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari. Key stakeholders from government, industry, and academia were also present on the occasion.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Nitin Gadkari Unveils ₹100 Commemorative Coin Honouring Spiritual Legacy of HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Ji’s Birth Centenary

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 10:04PM by PIB Delhi

    The Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, released a ₹100 commemorative coin in honour of HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Ji to mark her Birth Centenary celebrations. The event, organized at National Museum, was a heartfelt tribute to the immense contributions of HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Ji in promoting spirituality, inner peace, and self-realization globally.

     

    In his address, Shri Nitin Gadkari highlighted the significance of HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Ji’s teachings, emphasizing her lifelong dedication to uplifting humanity through the practice of Sahaja Yoga and her message of universal love. He mentioned that the release of this ₹100 commemorative coin is a symbol of appreciation for her profound impact on spiritual and cultural values.

    The ₹100 commemorative coin features the image of HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Ji, symbolizing her spiritual vision and the principles she embodied. It serves as a tribute to her enduring legacy and as a keepsake for those inspired by her teachings.

     

    NKK

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: A New Sustainable, Efficient Amide Synthesis Process can Streamline Drug Production & Reduce Costs

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 3:42PM by PIB Delhi

    Scientists have found a green and efficient chemical process for preparing amides directly from alcohol using a Covalent Organic Framework (COF) based photocatalyst that can revolutionize industrial manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and synthetic materials.

    Amides are essential in chemistry, serving as key components in a wide range of organic compounds, including proteins, pharmaceuticals, and synthetic materials. Traditional amide synthesis methods often require high temperatures and harsh conditions, leading to significant environmental impact and inefficiency. These conventional approaches typically involve transition metal catalysts and generate substantial waste, prompting the need for more sustainable alternatives.

    Researchers from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, an autonomous Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have introduced a novel method for synthesizing amides from alcohols using a Covalent Organic Framework (COF) as a photocatalyst under red light irradiation. This catalytic method can be helpful in chemical processes across various industries, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, materials science, and green chemistry – offering a more sustainable, efficient, and recyclable approach to creating vital chemical structures.

    The advantages of this method include mild reaction conditions, high efficiency, excellent recyclability, and the practicality of red-light activation, which is less harmful and penetrates more effectively, making it suitable for large-scale applications. Additionally, the tolerance of COFs to various functional groups broadens their applicability to challenging substrates, such as secondary amides, which are difficult to synthesize using traditional catalysts.

    The newly developed method uses the redox-active TTT-DHTD COF, which has been designed with high-density organic moieties, namely dithiophenedione, which is crucial for trapping photogenerated electrons (Scheme 1). This feature enables the COF to efficiently facilitate hydrogen atom abstraction reactions. The ability of the COF to absorb light across the visible spectrum, coupled with its narrow band gap, makes it particularly effective for generating excitons, which are essential for dehydrogenative coupling reactions. Upon red light absorption, the COF undergoes a photochemical reaction that generates excited states capable of initiating the dehydrogenation of alcohols, resulting in amide formation through coupling with amines. The process benefits from the stability and recyclability of COFs, making it a robust catalyst for repeated use.

    The implications of this research are significant. In the pharmaceutical industry, this method could streamline drug production, reduce costs, and eliminate metal contamination. In materials science, it could enable the development of new polymers and materials with amide linkages, expanding the range of materials for various applications. Further research may optimize the COF structure for even better performance and stability, and scaling up the process for industrial applications will be crucial to realizing its full potential.

    Scheme 1. Scheme of synthesis of amides using covalent organic frameworks as heterogeneous photocatalysts.

     

    The development of the TTT-DHTD COF-catalysed method for sustainable and green amide synthesis marks a significant advancement in chemical catalysis. By combining mild reaction conditions, efficient light activation, and excellent recyclability, this approach addresses many limitations of traditional methods and paves the way for more sustainable and efficient chemical processes. As research progresses, the impact of this breakthrough could extend across multiple industries, driving progress toward greener and more effective chemical synthesis.

    Publication link; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/anie.202410300

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Watauga County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Watauga County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Watauga County

    RALEIGH, N.C. –  A Disaster Recovery Center is opening Tuesday, Oct. 15 in Boone (Watauga County) to assist North Carolina survivors who experienced loss from Helene. 

    The Watauga County DRC is located at:  

    Appalachian Enterprise Center
    130 Poplar Grove Connector 
    Boone, N.C. 28607
    Open: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday

    A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more.  

    FEMA financial assistance may include money for basic home repairs, personal property losses or other uninsured, disaster-related needs, such as childcare, transportation, medical needs, funeral or dental expenses. 

    Centers are already open in Asheville, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. To find those center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology.   

    Homeowners and renters in 27 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can visit any open center, including locations in other states. No appointment is needed.  

    It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for FEMA assistance. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA app. You may also call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. 

    For the latest information about North Carolina recovery, visit Hurricane Helene | NC DPS or fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    barbara.murien…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, State Highway 1, Marton

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are at the scene of a serious crash that has blocked State Highway 1 at Marton.

    The crash involves an empty bus and a truck, and was reported about 8.50am. The road is blocked at the rail overbridge between Wings Line and Calico Line.

    Diversions are in place and motorists should expect delays.

    The Serious Crash Unit is attending.

    Information will be released proactively when we are in a position to do so.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal crash at Waterloo Corner

    Source: South Australia Police

    Major Crash officers are investigating a fatal crash at Waterloo Corner earlier this morning.

    Just after 12.15am on Tuesday 15 October, emergency services were called to the intersection of Port Wakefield Highway and McEvoy Road at Waterloo Corner after reports a concrete truck and a sedan collided.

    The driver of the white Lexus sedan, a 19-year-old woman from Buckland Park, sadly died at the scene.

    The driver of the truck was taken to hospital where he is being treated for minor injuries.  He is assisting police with their investigations.

    The intersection was closed for about five hours whilst Major Crash officers examined the scene, but the road has since reopened.

    The woman’s death is the 69th live lost on South Australian roads this year.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Lower Light

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating a serious crash at Lower Light earlier this morning.

    Just before 2.30am on Tuesday 15 October, police and emergency services were called to the intersection of Port Wakefield Highway and Richardson Road at Lower Light after reports a truck collided with a pedestrian.

    The pedestrian, a 29-year-old woman from Osborne, was taken to hospital where she is being treated for critical injuries.

    The driver of the truck, a 38-year-old man from Unley Park, was uninjured and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.  The man is assisting police with their investigation.

    Port Wakefield Highway is currently closed for southbound traffic from Richardson Road and diversions are in place. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

    Police are asking if anyone witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Houchin and Congressman Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Financial Abuse

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (Indiana 09)

    Washington, D.C. — Recently, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-9) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) introduced the Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act, a bipartisan effort to address the growing issue of coerced debt and financial exploitation. The proposed task force aims to develop a comprehensive approach to combat financial abuse, protect victims, and prevent future incidents.

    Coerced debt occurs when one individual in an abusive relationship accumulates debt in their partner’s name without their knowledge or consent. This form of financial abuse can leave victims trapped with ruined credit, overwhelming debt, and limited financial options, even after escaping an abusive situation.

    “Addressing coerced debt requires a coordinated effort that goes beyond just tackling financial exploitation; it touches on abuse, consumer protection, and the ability to live free from financial control,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “The Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act will provide a roadmap to better understand the scope of this problem and develop real solutions to help victims break free and rebuild their lives.”

    “Far too many survivors are trapped in abusive relationships where their spouse or significant other has run up the bills on credit cards or auto loans – often without their knowledge. As a result, they face destroyed credit, substantial payment expectations, debt collection, and even, bankruptcy. Financial abuse is often the last chain that binds a survivor to their abuser. This new Interagency Task Force on Financial Abuse will bring together relevant federal agencies and external stakeholders to address this crisis head on,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “When we protect survivors from financial abuse, we don’t just restore their credit — we restore their freedom and their future.”

    The Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act represents a critical step toward breaking the cycle of financial control that affects so many victims of domestic abuse. Congresswoman Houchin and Congressman Gottheimer are committed to advancing this legislation, ensuring that survivors have the support they need and preventing future financial abuse.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Gaza: Medical care under fire UPCOMING EVENT Oct 15, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    Palestinian Territories 2023 © Pierre Fromentin/MSF

    UPCOMING EVENT

    Palestinian Territories 2023 © Pierre Fromentin/MSF

    October 15, 2024

    1:00PM-1:45PM ET

    Event type: Live online

    October 15, 2024 | 1:00PM-1:45PM ET

    Gaza: Medical care under fire

    We invite you to join us for a live online event on Tuesday, October 15, from 1:00-1:45 pm ET, with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) aid workers reflecting on the catastrophic health impacts of the war in Gaza.

    MSF teams were already active providing medical care in Gaza when conflict escalated following the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7. In response, the Israeli government launched a ferocious military offensive on Gaza. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been injured, and some 1.9 million people have been displaced–often multiple times. Much of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble.

    MSF staff are providing urgent medical care even while facing the personal impacts of the war themselves–the deaths of loved ones, destruction of their homes, and constant dangers everywhere. Hospitals and health facilities have repeatedly come under fire or been forced to evacuate. The medical needs are exploding, including the spread of infectious diseases and the risk of starvation.

    Join us for a conversation with Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, emergency physician and former medical team leader in Gaza, and Dr. Amber Alayyan, pediatrician and medical program manager for MSF in Palestine, Afghanistan and Haiti. Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, MSF deputy medical coordinator in Gaza, will share testimony directly from Khan Younis, and Avril Benoît, MSF USA chief executive officer, will moderate the live discussion. Together they will bear witness to this unfolding emergency and reflect on the medical challenges ahead.

    Meet the speakers

    Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim

    Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim is an emergency physician and was president of MSF UK from 2017-2021. Born and raised in the UK to Sudanese Iranian parents, Javid volunteered with MSF as a medical student, and later joined MSF as an aid worker for his first assignment to Iraq. Since then, he has worked for MSF in conflict zones, crises and disease outbreaks around the world. He has completed assignments in Ukraine, Haiti, Lebanon/Syria, South Sudan, Sierra Leone (for Ebola), and on the Mediterranean Sea on one of MSF’s search and rescue vessels. Most recently, he worked as an emergency medical team leader in Gaza. 

    Dr. Amber Alayyan

    Dr. Amber Alayyan is a pediatrician and international public health consultant with over 20 years of experience in health care in conflict and post-conflict zones particularly in the Middle East, as well as malnutrition and environmental health in conflict settings. She currently works as MSF’s medical program manager for Afghanistan, Palestine, and Haiti and previously managed medical programs for Peru, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq. In her current role, she manages the medical operational strategy and activities in the West Bank and Gaza. These activities include burn and trauma surgery and multi-disciplinary pre/post-operative care, pediatric inpatient care, antibiotic resistance management, primary health care, mental health, and sexual and gender-based violence. Her work with MSF over the past 13 years includes assignments in the Central African Republic, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan/Syria, Turkey/Syria, Lebanon, Croatia and Greece.

    Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib

    Dr. Mohammed (Abu Abed) Abu Mughaisib is the deputy medical coordinator for MSF’s operations in Palestine. He holds degrees in both medicine and mental health and has worked with MSF for nearly 23 years. Last fall, he was forced to flee his home in Gaza City, and was displaced multiple times thereafter. While his wife and children managed to cross the border into Egypt, Abu Abed continues to provide lifesaving care as a critical member of our project team in Palestine. 

    Avril Benoît

    Avril Benoît is the chief executive officer of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States (MSF USA). She has worked with the international medical humanitarian organization since 2006 in various operational management and executive leadership roles, most recently as the director of communications and development at MSF’s operational center in Geneva, a position she held from November 2015 until June 2019. Throughout her career with MSF, Avril has contributed to major movement-wide initiatives, including the global mobilization to end attacks on hospitals and health workers. She has worked as a country director and project coordinator for MSF, leading operations to provide aid to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Mauritania, South Sudan, and South Africa. Avril’s strategic analysis and communications assignments have taken her to countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Haiti, Iraq, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. From 2006 to 2012, Avril served as director of communications with MSF Canada. Prior to joining MSF, Avril had a distinguished 20-year career as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in Canada. She was a documentary producer and radio host with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), reporting from Kenya, Burundi, India, and Brazil on HIV stigma, rapid urbanization, sexual violence in conflict, and political inclusion of women, among numerous other assignments and topics. Recent articles: Surge of humanity needed for migrants and refugees  

    NEWS | OCT 14, 2024

    MSF mourns and condemns the tragic killing of our colleague in norther…

    Read More

    STORY | OCT 14, 2024

    Humanitarian funding shortfall threatens essential mental health care …

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    Urgent: Thousands trapped in Jabalia, northern Gaza, amid Israeli forc…

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    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This year’s Nobel prize in economics awarded to team that examined what makes some countries rich and others poor

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

    Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson Nobel Prize Outreach

    The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to three US-based economists who examined the advantages of democracy and the rule of law, and why they are strong in some countries and not others.

    Daron Acemoglu is a Turkish-American economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Simon Johnson is a British economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and James Robinson is a British-American economist at the University of Chicago.

    The citation awards the prize “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity”, making it an award for research into politics and sociology as much as economics.

    At a time when democracy appears to be losing support, the Nobel committee has rewarded work that demonstrates that, on average, democratic countries governed by the rule of law have wealthier citizens.


    Johan Jarnestad/Nobel Prize Outreach

    The committee says the richest 20% of the world’s countries are now around 30 times richer than the poorest 20%. Moreover, the income gap is persistent; although the poorest countries have become richer, they are not catching up with the most prosperous.

    Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson have connected this difference to differences in institutions, and they find this derives from differences in the behaviour of European colonisers in different parts of the world centuries ago.

    The denser the indigenous population, the greater the resistance that could be expected and the fewer European settlers moved there. On the other hand, the large indigenous population – once defeated – ofered lucrative opportunities for cheap labour.

    This meant the institutions focused on benefiting a small elite at the expense of the wider population. There were no elections and limited political rights.



    Read more:
    Sidelined no longer, Claudia Goldin wins the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for examining why gender pay gaps persist

    In the places that were more sparsely populated and offered less resistance, more colonisers settled and established inclusive institutions that incentivised hard work and led to demands for political rights.

    The committee says, paradoxically, this means the parts of the colonised world that were the most prosperous around 500 years ago are now relatively poor. Prosperity was greater in Mexico under the Aztecs than it was at the same time in the part of North America that is now called Canada and the United States.


    Johan Jarnestad/Nobel Prize Outreach

    More so than in previous years, this year’s winners have written for the public as well as the profession. Acemoglu and Robinson are probably best known for their 2013 best-seller Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty.(It has pictures and no equations.)

    Last year Acemoglu and Johnson published Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity.

    In May this year Acemoglu wrote about artificial intelligence, putting forward the controversial position that its effects on productivity would be “nontrivial but modest”, which is another way of saying “tiny”. Its effect on wellbeing might be even smaller and it was unlikely to reduce inequality.

    Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

    This year’s award makes the cohort of Nobel winners a little less US-dominated.

    Although all three are currently working at American universities, Acemoglu is from Turkey and the others are British. There is even an Australian link. Robinson taught economics at The University of Melbourne between 1992 and 1995.

    Winning the prize is life-changing for more reasons than the 11 million Swedish kroner (about $A 1.5 million) the winners share. As Nobel winners, they will have a higher profile. Their opinions will be accorded more respect by most but not all.

    Sixteen former winners recently issued a widely reported statement saying they were “deeply concerned about the risks of a second Trump administration for the US economy”. Rather than address their arguments, the Trump campaign called them “worthless out-of-touch Nobel prize winners”.

    The new winners might get the same treatment. Johnson has critiqued Trump’s proposal to raise tariffs. Acemoglu has called Trump “a threat to democracy”.

    John Hawkins does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. This year’s Nobel prize in economics awarded to team that examined what makes some countries rich and others poor – https://theconversation.com/this-years-nobel-prize-in-economics-awarded-to-team-that-examined-what-makes-some-countries-rich-and-others-poor-240890

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina

    Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
    mseets

    An unprecedented response to damage caused by Hurricane Helene continues in Western North Carolina. State, federal and local response workers are working around the clock to surge assistance into the region.

    Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and will resume door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.

    “State, federal and local response workers, including FEMA, are working around the clock to bring assistance to western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that significant misinformation online contributes to threats against response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be a priority. At my direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is helping partners like FEMA to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure their safety and security as they continue their important work.”

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    Approximately 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $96 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 160,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 4,600 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

    1,000+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 135 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Shelters

    A total of 13 shelters are open in Western North Carolina supporting over 560 people.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, approximately 19,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region.

    NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for those traveling in the region. North Carolinians can visit DriveNC.Gov for the latest roadway conditions. NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.

    Volunteers and Donations

    Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is difficult. Consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    • If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
    • For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 14, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – How can governments better support migrants? – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    A new study emphasises the need for tailored approaches that balance migration’s economic and social complexities.

    As global migration intensifies, the question of how to integrate migrants while supporting cultural diversity, economic stability and a cohesive society is a central challenge for policymakers.

    A new paper published in the Journal of Political Economy: Microeconomics by University of Auckland researchers Dr Chanelle Duley and Professor Prasanna Gai offers insights into how policymakers can better support migrants and society as a whole.

    The researchers explored historical and contemporary nation-building efforts and developed a novel model to help understand the impacts of two approaches: assimilation and biculturalism.

    Assimilation policies, like promoting a single language or streamlining education, have for many years, been seen as a way to foster unity. These policies can help people communicate more efficiently and reduce friction, allowing societies to function smoothly.

    However, assimilation often comes with a cost for minority groups, who may feel pressured to give up their cultural identity to fit in. The authors refer to this as ‘lock-in’ costs, where individuals lose something valuable, such as language or customs, in exchange for social and economic benefits.

    Meanwhile, biculturalism aims to celebrate and protect the distinct identities of different groups. Examples of this approach include recognising minority languages or supporting Indigenous rights.

    While this strategy allows cultural groups to thrive, the study points out that it can complicate cooperation between different communities, potentially affecting social cohesion and productivity.

    So, which approach is best?

    According to Duley and Gai, it depends on the specific makeup of a society and the degree of cultural distance between groups.

    They say the ease with which different cultural groups can interact and the size of the cultural gap between them matters when it comes to deciding what mix of policies will work best.

    In countries where one cultural group is dominant, assimilation might seem like the simplest way to create a unified national identity. However, in more diverse societies, bicultural policies could help ease tensions by ensuring minority groups have space to maintain their traditions while still being part of the broader community.

    The authors argue for more nuanced and context-sensitive nation-building strategies that account for the welfare of minority groups and avoid the long-term social and cultural costs of extreme assimilation.

    “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for nation-building,” says Duley. “Policymakers need to evaluate the specific cultural context, including the size of minority groups and the degree of cultural differences to try to find the right balance between assimilation and biculturalism.”

    The study also highlights the role of political imperatives. Politicians, who typically seek to appeal to the majority, usually favour more aggressive assimilation policies. But if the aim is to maximise overall societal welfare, more moderate forms of assimilation or bicultural policies that protect minority groups may be better placed to foster national cohesion.

    Read the full paper: Cultural Assimilation and Nation Building: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/732244?journalCode=jpemi

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –